Tiger Bee Fly

Xenox tigrinus

Order
Family
Genus
Species
Regional

This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:

Barling, Arkansas

Bellflower, California

Glendora, California

Bear, Delaware

Herrin, Illinois

Elkhart, Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

Des Moines, Iowa

Lexington, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky

Baltimore, Maryland

Crofton, Maryland

Watertown, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts

Fraser, Michigan

Galien, Michigan

Wayne, Michigan

Manahawkin, New Jersey

South River, New Jersey

Liverpool, New York

Pavilion, New York

Rochester, New York

Goldsboro, North Carolina

Lexington, North Carolina

Bowling Green, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Granville, Ohio

Steubenville, Ohio

Stow, Ohio

Youngstown, Ohio

Allison Park, Pennsylvania

Coal Center, Pennsylvania

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Prosperity, South Carolina

Chesapeake, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Roanoke, Virginia

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Gardener's Notes:
3 positive 11 neutral 0 negative
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L

Lauren82

Baltimore, MD | July 2021 | Neutral
Well, I feel terrible now. I have never seen one of these before today, I live in Baltimore MD. And I was taking my dog out earlier, and one of these guys kept swarming around & lunging at my head & trying to get in my house!! I kept swatting it away & ran inside, thinking it was a huge horse fly or some mutant kind of bee, both of which I was worried about getting sting or bit. Then I go to use the bathroom a couple hours later & hear a very loud buzzing. My hubby left the window cracked apparently & that sucker got in! Worried about it stinging or biting us or our dog, I got it with a fly swatter. And now I feel just AWFUL!!!!!! I don\'t like killing bugs but this guy looked menacing & I swear it just kept coming after me! I wish I had known they were harmless. If I ever see one again, I... read more
r

rbeckster

Allison Park, PA | August 2020 | Neutral
I saw a tiger bee fly outside a carpenter bee hole this morning on my porch and was shocked at the size and coloring of it because I haven\'t witnessed one before! At first I thought it was an invasive species, but I\'m happy that it\'s not! Beautiful bug but a creepy larvae! It\'s so interesting to see how they function! Pittsburgh, PA welcomes them now --especially our household with a carpenter bee problem!
A

AtTheBeach2

Manahawkin, NJ | August 2020 | Positive
I recently discovered these flies mainly flying around my back deck & shed area. I googled them & was happy I did. Our yard has always had carpenter bees in the fencing & deck & wasps in the shutters. They\'ve been replaced since this new guy moved in. However, I didn\'t know why until I did the research. It all makes sense now.
T

ToBeFearless

Rochester, NY | July 2020 | Positive
For such a big fly the Tiger Bee Fly has a very cool flight pattern which is what caught my eye, and I thought it was really interesting that they travel in pairs. They landed on my porch this evening and I had to look them up to know whether to avoid them or not. I’m very excited actually to find out that they infiltrate wasps that colonize your house, because I have that problem, And I was so wondering what it was I would do about it!! I’m very impressed that they found me, and seriously hope they are about the task. I’m glad to be their host. So pretty, and cool!! 😎 ~ K
L

LynnG13

Louisville, KY | July 2020 | Neutral
We have had several of these in our yard in Louisville, KY. I assume they are hunting the Carpenter Bees we have in our deck. Glad to find out what they are.
T

Tango23

Richmond, VA | July 2020 | Neutral
Just saw a pair of these today in my yard near Richmond, Virginia.
M

Mimi8813

Meadville, PA | August 2019 | Neutral
I have seen a few in Meadville, PA. Weird looking things.
D

DHalterman

Parkville, MD | July 2019 | Neutral
This summer (2019) I have been seeing several Tiger Bee Flies hanging around the wooden railing of my back porch in Carney (Baltimore County), Maryland.
h

htran

Lexington, NC | July 2019 | Neutral
I also wanted to add to reported locations of the Tiger Bee Fly. I have one on my front porch in Lexington, NC. I thought it was some type of bee but I wasn't sure what so I did a little research and found this website. I'm glad it doesn't sting or bite. It looks like it's thunking it's head against the wood on my porch. So I'll leave it be and let it continue to thunk it's head on the wood. I'm hoping it'll help control the carpenter bees that love drilling holes in my front porch.
E

EChain

| August 2015 | Neutral
I saw one on my balcony garden, impressive size!
b

bobarang

Liverpool, NY | August 2015 | Neutral
Seen a maybe 7 so far this summer around my back porch in Liverpool NY. They've been hovering around a known carpenter bee den in the railing of my stairs. I wasn't sure what they were until I found your site! Thanks!
O

Opusnbill

Lexington, KY | July 2015 | Neutral
I get a lot of carpenter bees each year, but haven't seen these until this year. Lexington, KY.
p

patpmul

Parkersburg, WV | July 2014 | Neutral
Just to add to reported locations, have several in my garden here in Parkersburg, WV. I didn't know what it was until I checked here. Looks dangerous which I now know its not and that color/camouflage combination looks futuristically alien.
q

quietgenie

Dayton, OH | July 2010 | Positive
The adult Tiger Bee Fly infiltrates the galleries of certain carpenter bees in order to lay its eggs. The Tiger Bee Fly pupae then feed on the carpenter bee pupae and adults.

The Tiger Bee Fly itself is herbivorous, feeding on flower nectar.
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